Old (Auld) Tom Morris

[Big Dick McGee]

Old Tom Morris
1821 - 1908

Tom Morris, like David Joy, was born and bred in St Andrews, on the east coast of Scotland. Morris was heard to say, " We were all born with webbed feet and a golf club in our hand here."

He began his career as an apprentice feather ball maker with Allan Robertson with whom he worked for 12 years until 1849, when the new gutta ball took away their livelihood.

Old Tom's clubmaking business was established in 1867 by the side of the 18th green of The Old Course. The business continued to run during his lifetime and consistently created employment for six skilled craftsmen, one of which, Bob Martin, was a double winner of The Open Championship at St Andrews in 1876 & 1885.

Not only did Morris work with Robertson (himself dubbed the "World's First Golf Professional"), but the two men also played in foursomes together (the main game at that time) and were never beaten from 1842 till Robertson's untimely death in 1859.

Morris was Keeper of the Greens in Prestwick from 1851 (the year of his son's birth) until 1864. He was also Custodian of the Links in his birthplace of St Andrews - a position he held for nearly forty years - until he reached retirement age in 1902.

Old Tom was famed for his course design; "£1 a day I charged plus expenses." Old Tom declared! He played a part in the design of many famous courses, including Prestwick, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal County Down, Nairn and Cruden Bay.

Morris Senior won four Open Championships in the eighteen sixties, (1861, 1862, 1864 and 1867) and is still the oldest person to have won the event at the age of 46. In the first ever Open, Morris came second to Willie Park (who beat him by two shots.) Morris received the sum of £3 as the runner-up, but Park received no prize money, making do with the honour of being named "The Champion Golfer" for that year.

Morris' son Tommy followed in his footsteps, winning in 1868 at the tender age of 17. Young Tom won the Open four consecutive times (1868 - 70 and 1872, there was no championship in 1871). Sadly, Tom Morris Junior died on Christmas Day in 1875 at the age of 24.

Old Tom Morris died in the year 1908 aged 86. He died as a result of sustaining a fractured skull after falling down the stairs in The New Club, St Andrews.
Tom had gained so much respect, that his funeral was attended by hundreds of people who knew, loved and admired him. The funeral procession itself spanned the length of South Street in St Andrews. He was a true pioneer in the world of golf and had lived through the major transitions of the game, from the feather ball; the first Opens; the popularisation of the game; and the introduction of inland courses.

 

[Big Dick McGee]

Old Tom Morris

Born in St Andrews, Tom Morris Senior is remembered as a true pioneer and exponent of the game of golf. He was an accomplished champion, course designer and club-maker.

Morris grew up in a time when golf was the preserve of the affluent due to the cost of hand crafted wooded clubs and 'featherie' balls. Growing up in St Andrews, he was surrounded by golf and indeed his first job was apprentice ball maker to the famous Allan Robertson.

In fact, Robertson and Morris played as partners and were considered formidable opposition. However, their relationship soured after the Haskell ball was introduced. Morris realised that the new ball made the 'featherie' obsolete. Robertson saw the new ball as undermining his business and therefore opposed it. In the end, Morris set up his own workshop to produce clubs and balls.

In 1851, Morris moved to Prestwick as greenkeeper; the same year, his son, the great Young Tom Morris, was born. He helped to set up the Open Championship and finished second to Willie Park in the inaugural event of 1860. Indeed Morris competed in every Open until 1896 and was a 4 times winner. He returned to St Andrews in 1865 as greenkeeper and later professional.

Morris was associated with St Andrews until his death in 1908. He died a few months after sustaining injuries from falling down the stairs at the New Golf Club. A measure of his popularity is that his funeral was attended by hundreds of admirers. In recognition of his service, the R&A has hung his portrait on permanent display in it's clubhouse.

 

[Big Dick McGee]

Tom Morris Sr., aka Old Tom Morris
Born:
June 16, 1821, in St. Andrews, Scotland
Died:
1908
Nickname:
Tom Morris Sr. is more commonly known as "Old Tom" Morris, to differentiate him from his son, Tom Morris Jr. ("Young Tom" Morris, natch).
Major Championships:
4
• British Open: 1861, 1862, 1864, 1867
Awards and Honors:
Member, World Golf Hall of Fame
Trivia:
In 1899, Old Tom Morris took on an apprentice greenskeeper at St. Andrews. That apprentice was Donald Ross, the future golf design genius.

Old Tom Morris Biography:

Old Tom Morris is the most influential figure in the early (pre-1900) history of golf. He was a great player, clubmaker, greenskeeper and course designer.

Morris was born in St. Andrews and apprenticed himself to Allan Robertson, considered by golf historians to be the first golf professional. Robertson made featherie balls, and taught Morris the trade. The two often paired together in matches, and according to legend, were never beaten.

When the gutta percha ball arrived on the scene, however, the two split. Robertson demanded that Morris join him in condeming the new ball, thus protecting the featherie business. Morris recognized the guttie as the future, and left Robertson's side in 1849.

Morris left St. Andrews to join Prestwick, where he served as "keeper of the greens." Prestwick hosted the first British Open in 1860, where Morris finished second. But Morris would win four Open Championships during the decade.
In 1865, he returned to St. Andrews as greenskeeper - a position he held until 1904 - and established a clubmaking shop near the 18th green. The 18th green is today named in honor of Old Tom Morris.

Morris pioneered many of what are now considered the first modern approaches to greenskeeping. He also was one of the first great course designers, taking a role in designing or remodeling around 75 courses according to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Among those Old Tom helped shape are Prestwick, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal County Down, Nairn and Cruden Bay - still some of the most famous golf courses in the world.

Old Tom Morris still holds two British Open records: oldest champion (age 46 in 1867) and largest margin of victory (13 in 1862). He played in every British Open until 1895.

Morris' son, who would win four British Opens himself, was born in 1851. But Young Tom Morris died on Christmas Day, 1875, just a few months after his wife and child died during childbirth.